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Well, I’m back and this time with a different flight Set. This time we’re doing a flight up north in the Washington State area, and we all know how much Microsoft liked that area in FS2004/X, that it used Seattle in 2004 as a default Starting point and Friday Harbor in FSX as it’s default starting point.

Well, today, you’ll see just how much different my favorite program in the world Tilerpoxy makes flying in FSX over these default areas.

Did you know that Seattle Washington, is a major city and seaport located in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Situated in the western part of Washington state on an isthmus between Puget Sound (an arm of the Pacific Ocean) and Lake Washington, about 100 miles (160 km) south of the Canada – United States border, it is named after Chief Seattle, of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes. The encompassing Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue metropolitan statistical area is the 15th largest in the United States, and the largest in the northwestern United States. The major economic, cultural and educational center in the region, Seattle is the county seat of King County. As of 1 April 2009, the city had an estimated municipal population of 602,000

Taxi to the Active

The Seattle area has been inhabited for at least 4,000 years,[9] but European settlement began only in the mid-19th century. The first permanent European settlers—Arthur A. Denny and those subsequently known as the Denny Party—arrived November 13, 1851. Early settlements in the area were called "New York-Alki" ("Alki" meaning "by and by" in the local Chinook Jargon) and "Duwamps". In 1853, Doc Maynard suggested that the main settlement be renamed "Seattle", an anglicized rendition of the name of Sealth, the chief of the two local tribes. From 1869 until 1882, Seattle was known as the "Queen City". Seattle's current official nickname is the "Emerald City", the result of a contest held in the early 1980s; the reference is to the lush evergreen forests of the area. Seattle is also referred to informally as the "Gateway to Alaska", "Rain City", and "Jet City", the last from the local influence of Boeing. Seattle residents are known as Seattleites.

Holding Short

Seattle is the birthplace of rock legend Jimi Hendrix and the music style known as "grunge," which was made famous by local groups Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. Bruce Lee and Brandon Lee are also buried at Lakeview cemetery. Seattle has a reputation for heavy coffee consumption; coffee companies founded or based in Seattle include Starbucks, Seattle's Best Coffee, and Tully's. There are also many successful independent artisanal espresso roasters and cafes. Researchers at Central Connecticut State University ranked Seattle the most literate city of America's sixty-nine largest cities in 2005 and 2006, second most literate in 2007 (after Minneapolis), and tied with Minneapolis in 2008. Additionally, survey data from the United States Census Bureau indicate that Seattle has a higher percentage of college graduates than any other major American city, with approximately 53.8% of residents aged 25 and older holding a bachelor degree or higher. In terms of per capita income, a study by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis ranked the Seattle metropolitan area 17th out of 363 metropolitan areas is 2006.

Climbing Out

The railways and streetcars that once dominated its transportation system have largely been replaced with an extensive network of bus routes for those living near the city center, and the city's outward growth caused automobiles to become the main mode of transportation for much of the population in the middle to late twentieth century. As a result, Seattle is ranked as one of the most congested cities in the United States. However, efforts to reverse this trend at the municipal and state levels have resulted in new commuter rail service that connects Seattle to Everett and Tacoma, a regional Link Light Rail system that extends south from the city core, and an inner-city South Lake Union Streetcar network in the South Lake Union area. Extension of the light rail to the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport began on December 19, 2009, and future expansion is planned to surrounding areas such as the University of Washington, Bellevue and Redmond in the years to come

Doing the Circuit to Climb to Cruise Altitude

Archaeological excavations confirm that the Seattle area has been inhabited by humans for at least 4,000 years. By the time the first European settlers arrived in the area, the people (now called the Duwamish Tribe) occupied at least seventeen villages in the areas around Elliott Bay.

Approaching Seattle

The Industrial Area of Seattle in Tileproxy – note the differences from the Default Scenery – UNBELIEVABLE !

The Dock Area of Seattle – you can clearly see multiple Train Cars, and various Industrial Equipment…

Another view of the dock with all the shipping containers – with the looks of that, just picture the foreman going, “Ay, Bob – we need Container 34D, Pronto!”

Leaving the hectic atmosphere of the docks – wondering what all those workers are doing….

In 1851, a large party led by Luther Collins made a location on land at the mouth of the Duwamish River; they formally claimed it on September 14, 1851. Thirteen days later, members of the Collins Party on the way to their claim passed three scouts of the Denny Party, the group who would eventually found Seattle. Members of the Denny Party claimed land on Alki Point on September 28, 1851. The rest of the Denny Party set sail from Portland, Oregon and landed on Alki point during a rainstorm on November 13, 1851.

Downtown Seattle – the hustle and bustle of city life doesn’t seem so bad at 5000ft.

Seattle’s Sister Campus across Puget Sound

Passing Seattle

After a difficult winter, most of the Denny Party relocated across Elliott Bay and founded the village of "Dewamps" or "Duwamps" on the site of present day Pioneer Square. Charles Terry and John Low remained at the original landing location and established a village they initially called "New York", but renamed "Alki" in April 1853, from a Chinook word meaning, roughly, by and by or someday. New York-Alki and Duwamps competed for dominance for the next few years, but in time Alki was abandoned and its residents moved across the bay to join the rest of the settlers.

Another fast paced industrial area with the tracks below us…

David Swinson ("Doc") Maynard, one of Duwamps's founders, was the primary advocate to rename the village "Seattle" after Chief Sealth of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes. The term, "Seattle", appears on official Washington Territory papers dated May 23, 1853, when the first plats for the village were filed. In 1855, nominal land settlements were established. On January 14, 1865, the Legislature of Territorial Washington incorporated the Town of Seattle with a board of trustees managing the city. Two years later, after a petition was filed by most of the leading citizens, the Legislature disincorporated the town. The town remained a precinct of King County until late 1869 when a new petition was filed and the city was re-incorporated with a Mayor-council government

Chittendon Locks

The local economy dipped after World War II, which had seen the dispersion of the numerous Japanese-American businessmen. The local economy rose again with manufacturing company Boeing's growing dominance in the airliner market. Seattle celebrated its restored prosperity and made a bid for world recognition with the Century 21 Exposition, the 1962 World's Fair. The local economy went into another major downturn in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Many left the area to look for work elsewhere, and two local real estate agents put up a billboard reading "Will the last person leaving Seattle – Turn out the lights."
Still, Seattle remained the corporate headquarters of Boeing until 2001, when the company separated its headquarters from its major production facilities. Boeing finally chose to move its corporate headquarters to Chicago. The Seattle area is still home to Boeing's Renton narrow-body plant (where the 707, 720, 727, and 757 were assembled, and the 737 is assembled today) and Everett wide-body plant (assembly plant for the 747, 767, 777 and the upcoming 787 Dreamliner); the company's credit union for employees, BECU, remains based in the Seattle area, though it is now open to all residents of Washington.

(Like we all didn’t know that…..)

Seattle from the distance, heading out to a more peaceful and serine atmosphere….

Clouds are starting to become threatening, but they’re well within the safety limits of our DA40 as we travel along, and visibility is quite within VFR limits…

We are heading out over Puget Sound now, and near Edmond, Washington.

Did you know the Puget Sound area There are various definitions of the extent and boundaries of Puget Sound.

The Olympic Mountains in the Distance, and Port Madison Indian Reservation.

In 1792 George Vancouver gave the name "Puget's Sound" to the waters south of the Tacoma Narrows, in honor of Peter Puget, a lieutenant accompanying him on the Vancouver Expedition. The name later came to be used for the waters north of Tacoma Narrows as well.
The USGS defines Puget Sound as all the waters south of three entrances — the main entrance at Admiralty Inlet being a line between Point Wilson, on the Olympic Peninsula, and Point Partridge, on Whidbey Island; a second entrance at Deception Pass being a line from West Point, on Whidbey Island, to Deception Island and Rosario Head, on Fidalgo Island; and a third entrance at the south end of the Swinomish Channel, which connects Skagit Bay and Padilla Bay. Under this definition, Puget Sound includes the waters of Hood Canal, Admiralty Inlet, Possession Sound, Saratoga Passage, and others. It does not include Bellingham Bay, Padilla Bay, the waters of the San Juan Islands or anything farther north.

Another definition, given by NOAA, subdivides Puget Sound into five basins or regions. Four of these correspond to areas within the USGS definition, but the fifth one, called "Northern Puget Sound" includes a large additional region. It is defined as bounded to the north by the international boundary with Canada, and to the west by a line running north from the mouth of the Sekiu River on the Olympic Peninsula. Under this definition significant parts of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia are included in Puget Sound, with the international boundary marking an abrupt and hydrologically arbitrary limit.

Whidbey Island. With Tileproxy, cliffs look amazing along the coast of Washington State…

According to Arthur Kruckeberg, the term "Puget Sound" is sometimes used for waters north of Admiralty Inlet and Deception Pass, especially for areas along the north coast of Washington and the San Juan Islands, essentially equivalent to NOAA's "Northern Puget Sound" subdivision described above. Kruckeberg uses the term "Puget Sound and adjacent waters".
An alternative term for Puget Sound, still used by only some Native Americans and environmental groups, is Whulge (or Whulj), an Anglicization of the Lushootseed name 'WulcH, which means "Salt Water". Since 2009 the term Salish Sea has been established by the United States Board on Geographic Names as the collective waters of Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Strait of Georgia. Sometimes the terms "Puget Sound" and "Puget Sound and adjacent waters" are used for not only Puget Sound proper but also for waters to the north, such as Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands region

More threatening clouds above us, we may have to divert if they decide to open up on us…

Coastal communities…

George Vancouver explored Puget Sound in 1792. Vancouver claimed it for Great Britain on 4 June 1792, naming it for one of his officers, Lieutenant Peter Puget. It was originally administered from Fort Vancouver as part of the Hudson's Bay Company's Columbia Department, but became U.S. territory when the 1846 Oregon Treaty was signed.
The first European settlement in the Puget Sound area was that of Fort Nisqually, in 1833, a farm and trading post of the British Puget Sound Agricultural Company a subsidiary of the Hudson's Bay Company.
After arriving along the Oregon Trail, many settlers wandered north to what is now Washington State and settled the Puget Sound area. The first American settlement was New Market (now known as Tumwater) in 1846. In 1853 Washington Territory was formed from part of Oregon Territory. In 1888 the Northern Pacific railroad line reached Puget Sound, linking the region to eastern states

Passing Coupeville

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,723 people, 737 households, and 426 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,346.7 people per square mile (519.7/km²). There were 814 housing units at an average density of 636.2/sq mi (245.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.79% White, 1.57% African American, 0.52% Native American, 2.15% Asian, 2.84% from other races, and 3.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.34% of the population.
There were 737 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.1% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 25.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,938, and the median income for a family was $47,721. Males had a median income of $33,235 versus $27,100 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,720. About 8.9% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Clouds starting to thin out

Approaching Ebey’s Landing

Leaving Ebey’s Landing

A real spectacular view of the Olympic Mountains. The mountains are out today, that’s for sure!

Some more threatening clouds above us, but not too bad as we approach Friday Harbor…

Friday Harbor is a town in San Juan County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,130 at the 2008 Census Bureau estimate. Located on San Juan Island, it is the major commercial center of the San Juan Islands archipelago. It is the county seat of San Juan County

Approaching Friday Harbor. Looks VERY different from the simulator with real world below us thanks to Tileproxy…

In 1845 the Hudson's Bay Company laid claim to San Juan Island. In 1850 they built a salmon curing station. A few years later they started a sheep farm.
The harbor got its name from Joseph Poalie (Poalima?) Friday, a Kanaka - a native Hawaiian man who worked at the Hudson's Bay Company's Cowlitz farm from 1841 to 1859-60. He moved north to San Juan Island and raised sheep around the harbor.

Doing the circuit as we descend to our landing altitude…

After the peaceful settlement of the Pig War, the islands became a separate county in 1873. Friday Harbor was named the county seat of San Juan County.
Friday Harbor was officially incorporated on February 10, 1909. It is the only incorporated town in the San Juan Islands.

The Great Depression, World War II, the pea weevil, and competition from Eastern Washington growers brought about the decline of traditional island industries. Friday Harbor's fortunes declined with them.

The 1960s brought new industries - tourism, retirement, real estate, construction - began to take hold. Today, Friday Harbor is again busy and prosperous.

Osamu Shimomura harvested jellyfish from the docks of the harbor. Eventually he purified the proteins that allow the jellyfish to fluoresce green when exposed to blue light. One of them, Green fluorescent protein is now widely used as a marker of molecular activity

View from the Flight Deck…

Friday Harbor's primary connection to the mainland is via Washington State Ferries, which sail between the town and Anacortes, Washington several times per day. Friday Harbor can also be reached via ferry from Sidney, British Columbia, on Washington State Ferries' only international route. This service is available seasonally, only (i.e., May to October). The Friday Harbor Airport, has a limited airline service.
Friday Harbor is also served by regular daily float plane scheduled services from the down town pier to Seattle's Lake Union seaplane base.
On the island, there are taxis, shuttles, bicycles and mopeds for rent.

Turning Final…

The town of Friday Harbor houses the world famous marine biology facility, Friday Harbor Laboratories, a field station of the University of Washington. The town has several schools, including the public Friday Harbor High School, Friday Harbor Middle School, and Friday Harbor Elementary School that are part of the San Juan Island School District; and the private Stillpoint School, Paideia School, and Spring Street School. Also on the island is a branch of Skagit Valley College. The school district also includes the small Stuart Island Elementary School that was established in 1897 and is one of Washington's "remote and necessary" schools.

Engines shut down, on the ramp, and ready to explore Friday Harbor, as a King Air is ready to take off behind us…
[IMG]http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o176/ragtopjohnny/Renton%20to%20Friday%20Harbor%20Washington%20State/80.jpg[/IMG

The pilot is bound only by his mind and his machine. We must expand the mind before we expand the machine, and by expanding the mind, we may expand the machine. Our mind is being expanded by the sim. It is not a game.